Victims ID’d in Fatal Collision With Sheriff’s Patrol Car in Palmdale

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The man and woman killed in a fatal collision with a Los Angeles County sheriff’s patrol car were identified as Robert Delgadillo, 31, of Palmdale and Sara Paynter, 20, of Van Nuys, the Los Angeles County coroner’s office said Sunday.

An SUV remained at the scene of a fatal crash in Palmdale on Saturday, Dec. 14, 2013. (Credit: KTLA)

The two were killed Saturday in Palmdale, when the Ford Explorer they were in collided with a Los Angeles County sheriff’s patrol car, authorities said.

The 36-year-old deputy was slightly injured in the crash, according to the sheriff’s Palmdale Station.

The collision occurred about 4:40 p.m. near the intersection of 17th Street East and Avenue R, sheriff’s Capt. Mike Parker said.

The Explorer was turning onto Avenue R when it collided with the sheriff’s vehicle, driven by a deputy who was on his way to a call, detectives said.

Delgadillo and Paynter were pronounced dead at the scene after being ejected in the crash, according to authorities.

The two surviving occupants of the Explorer suffered injuries that were not life-threatening. They were treated by paramedics at the scene, witnesses said, while the deputy was taken away quickly.

A nineteen-year-old man named Jaime, who declined to be identified by his last name, said he was in the passenger seat of the SUV at the time of the collision.

“I really don’t want to walk these streets no more, because of what happened,” he told KTLA, standing near a makeshift memorial that had been erected near the crash site. “Just looking at all those candles … It just hurts me. You know? It hurts me a lot.”

Jaime said Paynter and Delgadillo were very much in love, adding that he had recently accompanied Delgadillo as he shopped for a an engagement ring.